Apparatus for removing normally viscous liquid from surfaces



Jan. 3, 92s. 1,654,727

E. w. GREEN ET AL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING NORMALLY VISCOUS LIQUID FROM SURFACES Filed July 9. 1926 Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNlTED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD WILLIAM GREEN AND GEORGE RODHAH UNTHANK, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING NORMAL LY VISCOUS LIQUID FROM SURFACES.

Application filed July 9, 1926, Serial No. 121,307, and in Great Britain July 13, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for, removing normally viscous liquid from surfaces and has for its ob3ect the provision of means whereby the viscous liquid can be removed from any surface in a more effective, expeditious and safe mannere than has been possible heretofore.

This invention consists in the arrangcn'ient in combination of a mouth piece connected to a vacuum suction line and adapted to be angularly applied to the surface from which viscous liquid is to be removed; a pressure nozzle for obliquely applying a broad and similar length comparatively thin jet of steam or like heated fluid under pressure to said'surl'ace to thin the liquid on said surface and direct such thinned fluid into said mouth piece through which it is removed by the suction.

In the drawingsz- Fig. 1 illustrates in elevation one form of device constructed in accordance with this invention parts being shown in section for clarity of explanation.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a special form of valve which may be inserted in the steam line when deemed necessary.

The improved apparatus as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing is particularly J suitable for cleaning out the fuel oil tanks on board ship but may be employed for other purposes and may be constructively modified as found necessary without departing from the invention.

A mouth piece a and pressure nozzle b are formed in a single casting having suitable conduits a and d therein, the mouth piece a bein connected by the conduits c with a suite le suction apparatus whilst the pressure nozzle b is connected by-the conduit d with an source of supply of steam or like heated uid adapted to deliver at' the requisite pressure. The orifice of the mouth piece iz-may be about two and one half inches on and about one quarter of an inch in wi th, whilst the pressure nozzle may be of but only about one fiftieth of an inch in width. 1

The ap aratus is used with the part c of the mouth piece a resting on the surface 2 to be cleaned, thelower part e of said mouth piece a being curved in order that the. actual orifice is suitably dispositioned relatively to the surface.

The orifice of the pressure nozzle 6 is formed by. a plate f which is mounted on the casting by suitable screws such as g and disposedover the opening of the conduit d for the heatedfluid which is closed thereby except for the slit about one fiftieth of an inch wide between the plat f and the curved end la. of the wall separating the pressure conduit d from the suction conduit 0.

By this arrangement a jet of heated-fluid from the nozzle 6 is directed on to the oily surface (0 immediately below the suction orifice a, thinning the oil by its heat and forcing such thinned oil under the mouth piece a so that it can be easily sucked up.

To enable the passage of heated fluid through the pressure nozzle 6 to be controlled .and immediately interrupted in the event of the suction ceasing or the operator being physically overcome for any reason, a valve j which is stressed to return to its seat A: by a s ring Z may be located in the conduit cl for t e heated fluid in such convenient position that said valve j may be :retained 'in open position by the operator when necplying a broad and comparatively thin jet of steam or like heated fluid under pressure to said surface tothin the liquid on said surface and direct such thinned fluid into said mouth piece through which it is removed by the suction.

2. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1; I

including a valve associated with the pressure nozzle comprising a spring normally tending to' hold the valve closed against pressure, and means for opening the valve while the apparatus is in use.

EDWARD WILLIAM GREEN. GEORGE RODHAM UNTHANK. 

